Characterization of hepatic lactogen receptor. Subunit composition and hydrodynamic properties

The structure of the membrane-bound and Triton X-100-solubilized female rat liver prolactin receptor has been studied by affinity cross-linking/sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gel filtration, and sucrose/H2O and sucrose/D2O density gradient centrifugation. Hydrodynamic characterization revealed that the 125I-human growth hormone receptor-detergent complex represents a molecular species with a Stokes radius of 61 A, a sedimentation coefficient of 5.0 s, and a calculated molecular weight of 158,000. The molecular weight of the receptor was calculated to be 92,000. Three lactogenic hormone-binding species with Mr values of 87,000, 40,000, and 35,000, respectively, were repeatedly found when detergent-solubilized preparations were analyzed using an affinity cross-linking technique. Estrogen treatment of female rats increased the intensity of these bands. Occasionally, an Mr 165,000 hormone-binding species was also found. Two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies (first dimension, nonreducing; second dimension, reducing) demonstrated that disulfide- and nondisulfide-linked hormone-binding species with Mr values of 40,000 and 35,000 are contained within the Mr 87,000 species. It is concluded that the Triton X-100-solubilized female rat liver prolactin receptor has a molecular weight of about 90,000. This molecular species contains Mr 40,000 and Mr 35,000 hormone-binding subunits. It cannot be determined whether these subunits are combined with each other or with as yet undetected subunit(s) to make up the Mr 90,000 species, or whether each one of these subunits is a proteolytic fragment of the Mr 90,000 species.     

Afterpotentials and transduction properties in different types of central neurones

In mammalian central neurones, the soma-dendritic spike is generally followed by afterpotentials, a brief depolarizing potential (delayed depolarization) and a more longlasting afterhyperpolarization (AHP). These afterpotentials, and in particular the AHP, have long been considered as important factors in the control of excitation-to-frequency transduction. Analysis of the afterpotential properties has been performed on various types of central neurones; spinal alpha-motoneurones, dorsal spinocerebellar tract cells, rubrospinal neurones and hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. These investigations have shown the afterpotentials to differ considerably in their characteristics among these types of neurones. Studies of the firing behaviour of the neurones have also shown great variations in their firing properties, the observed differences being well in accord with those expected on the basis of their different afterpotential characteristics. The results suggest that the afterpotentials play a major role in the control of excitation-to-frequency transduction in several types of central neurones.     

Provision of aquatic ecosystem services as a consequence of societal changes: The case of the Baltic Sea

Aquatic ecosystem services are important for human wellbeing, but they are much less studied than terrestrial ecosystem services. The objectives of this study are to broaden, itemize and exemplify the human-nature interactions in modeling the future provision of aquatic ecosystem services. We include shared socioeconomic and representative concentration pathways, used extensively in climate research, as drivers of change for the future development of the Baltic Sea. Then we use biogeochemical and ecosystem models to demonstrate the future development of exemplary supporting, provisioning and cultural ecosystem services for two distinct combinations of regionally downscaled global climate and socioeconomic futures. According to the model simulations, the two global futures (“Sustainable well-being” vs. “Fossil-fuelled development”) studied lead to clearly deviating trajectories in the provision of marine ecosystem services. Under the “Sustainable well-being”-scenario primary production decreases by 20%, catches of demersal fish increases and the recreation opportunities increase significantly by the end of the ongoing century. Under the “fossil-fuelled development”-scenario primary production doubles, fisheries focus on less valued pelagic fish and the recreation possibilities will decrease. Long-term projections of aquatic ecosystem services prepared for alternative global socioeconomic futures can be used by policy makers and managers to adaptively and iteratively adjust mitigation and adaptation effort with plausible future changes in the drivers of water pollution.     

Growth and survival of four strains of Francisella tularensis in a rich medium preconditioned with Acanthamoeba palestinensis

The hypothesis of positive interactions between Francisella tularensis LVS (live vaccine strain) and Acanthamoeba palestinensis was tested. Pregrowth of the amoebae, in a rich (autoclaved and filtered) medium, from which they were subsequently removed by filtration, conditioned the medium so that growth of the live vaccine strain of F. tularensis occurred and the growth rate of one other strain was increased.     

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies recognizing unique epitopes on sexually differentiated rat liver cytochrome P-450 isozymes

Cytochrome P-450 isozymes P-450(16 alpha), P-450(15 beta), and P-450DEa are immunochemically related, as indicated by mutual cross-reactivity with polyclonal antibody preparations. We have isolated five monoclonal antibodies to P-450(15 beta) and one antibody to P-450(16 alpha) that show selectivity for the respective antigens. High frequencies of cross-reactivity were observed, indicating a high degree of homology among P-450(16 alpha), P-450(15 beta), and P-450DEa. All of the P-450(15 beta-specific antibodies bound to the same epitope, or closely grouped epitopes, supporting this conclusion. The specificity of each monoclonal antibody was characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western immunoblotting, and antibody-Sepharose immunoadsorption of solubilized rat liver microsomes. Antibodies F22 and F23, which were apparently identical, were specific for P-450(15 beta) by these criteria. However, the apparent specificities of antibodies F3 and F20 for P-450(15 beta), and of M16 for P-450(16 alpha), were highly dependent on the analytical technique used. The five anti-P-450(15 beta) antibodies all inhibited the catalytic activity of microsomal P-450(15 beta), by a maximum of 70%. However, they also produced a similar inhibition of microsomal P-450(16 alpha-specific antibody M16 and F23 have a low-affinity interaction with an epitope on P-450(16 alpha). The P-450(16 alpha)-specific antibody M16 was not inhibitory. The results indicate that the apparent specificity of a monoclonal antibody for an antigen determined by, e.g., Western blotting does not allow the conclusive identification of a protein in another system, e.g., immunoprecipitation of in vitro translation reaction products.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)